Antenna reflector assembly



Sept- 20, 1960 L. MILLER 2,953,400

ANTENNA REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY Filed July 6. 1959 FIG. I

INVENTUR. LEON M1 L L E R wwf/MW ATTORNEY United safes Panfo ANTENNA REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY Leon Miller, Little Silver, NJ.,` assigner to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed July 6, 1959, ser. No. 825,319

2 claims. (cl. 281-1) (Grantedunder Title ss, U.s. code (1952), see'. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental 2,953,400 Patented Sept. 20, Y 1960 ice ' Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the disc forming partof" v tion will be made. f

purposes, without the payment of any royalty thereon.

. The present invention relates to omni-directional type antennas and more particularly to a reflector assembly for such antennas.

Speciflcally, the invention is concerned with collapsible and erectable reliector assemblies that are characterized if.;

by having a plurality of rod-like elements which, when in open or extended position, serve as an element of antenna for radio receiver and/or transmitter sets, or other forms of equipments.

Such form of antennas have come into extensive use, particularly with the wide introduction of portable military equipments that require small lightweight portable antennas.

The present invention is concernedv only with the rellector assembly of such'antenna and particularly with a means for securing and maintaining the rod-like elements that make up the assembly.

Since the inception of umbrella type antennas, various means and methods have been devised to maintain the rod-like reflector antenna elements in rigid extended position and yet permit the elements to collapse when not in use. One such means included screwing the tubular antenna elements to a center plate. Still another method of securing the elements was to provide a center plate having a plurality of openings or recesses into which the elements were inserted into the recesses and held by force fit. In the use of the methods described above it has been found that disadvantages arose that seriously irnpaired the eflciency of such antennas. Firstly, it was found that the reflector rods so rigidly secured would readily snap or break if any accidental thrust was imparted to the rods resulting in damage to the antenna. Secondly, it was found that there where the rods were separable components, such rods could be lost in transit if not secured to the main body of the antenna. Another objection to such form of holding the rods was the time consumed in the assembly of the antenna.

In view of the deficiencies of the methods heretofore utilized the primary object of the present invention is to provide a reflector assembly for an antenna that is more durable than the prior art devices. Another object of the invention is to provide a reflector assembly that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. v

An important feature of the invention lies in the method of holding the reilector -rod elements so that such rods form an integral part of the antenna and are permanently secured thereto at all times.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description to be read in view of the accompanying sheet of drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View, partly cut away, showing the improved reflector assembly;

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are side elevational views in cross section showing the successive stages of bringing the reflector to its full operating position;

An insulating collar 17 such as of a plastic, is secured to the base 11 and serves as the immediate support for the reflector assembly generally designated as 19. vThe reilector assembly 19 includes a retaining disc or holder designated as 21 and shown in detail in Fig. 5. Referring to said figure, it can be seen that holder 21 is generally circular in configuration having a central opening 23 that accommodates a bolt 25 which secures the holder 21 to the collar 17 which is provided with a threaded bore in its top surface to receive said bolt. The disc holder 21 is characterized by having a series of cutouts 27 extending radially inwardly from the peripheral edge of the disc. Such cutouts on the peripheral edge serve to provide a series of peripheral tabs 29. Each of the tabs 29 is provided with an arcuate groove 31 on its surface of such contour, that if the disc 21 did not have the cutouts 27, the grooves 31 would form a continuous circle. Within the groove 31 is a split ring 33 which serves as the means for supporting the reflector elements 35. The elements 35 in the specific embodiment shown herein are of lightweight aluminum tubes, though it is to be understood that any form of conductive material can be used whether tubular or solid. Each of the reilector elements 35 terminate at one of their respective ends in a connector block 37 which is rectangular in cross section and of a width slightly smaller than the width of each of the cutouts 27. Each of the blocks 37 is provided with a central bore 39 having a diameter slightly larger than the thickness of the ring 33 so that when said blocks and their associated reflector elements 35 are threaded upon the ring and held thereby said elements are pivotably mounted thereon. Fig. 1 of the drawing indicates the manner in which the reflector elements are pivotably mounted and supported on the ring. In abutment with the holder 21 is a washer 40 which has a central opening whereby said washer can be held in position by the bolt 2'5. In partial abutment with the washer 40, is a multiple-plate flat spring generally designated as 41. One of the multiple-plates is shown in detail in Fig. 6 and, as shown, comprises a substantially flat circular plate having a series of radial slots 43 whereby when a plurality of plates of similar form are stacked a plurality of discrete leaves are formed, each stack of which can be slightly elevated or raised as hereinafter described. Completing the antenna is a cup-shaped washer 45 positioned over the at spring 41 and which, in conjunction with nut 47 which is threadable on the bolt 25, serves both to maintain the components of the assembly in position and further serves as a means for increasing or decreasing tension of the spring assembly 41.

While it is believed that the manner in which the reilector assembly operates is apparent from a study of the drawings, the following brief description of operation Vis set forth. In this regard attention is directed to Fig. 2 which shows the reflector elements in collapsed or inoperative position. When it is desired to place the reector in use, the elements 3S are lifted upwardly such as shown in Fig. 3. It is to be noted that in this stage of operation the individual grouped leaf sections are urged upwardly so that the connector blocks 37 of the rods 35 can clear into their extended position. It is sired. When it is desired to collapse the antenna assem-Y bly, reversal of the steps in erecting the antenna is used.

As already mentioned, the embodiment as applied toV an antenna rellector is given only for the purpose of explaining the invention and it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to such embodiment. Thus, Vfor example, the invention herein can be applied equally to the active or driven elements of an antenna or any other component part of antennas or similar structures as the need arises.

While there has been described what is at present considered a preferred embodiment of the inevntion, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modiiications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A supporting means for a plurality of rod-like antenna elements comprising a substantially circular holder having a series of cutouts to form a series of peripheral tabs, each of said tabs having a circumferential arcuate groove therein to form a broken series of grooves, a ring in said series of grooves for pivotally supporting each of said elements within each of said cutouts, a irst Washer in abutment with said holder, spring tension means comprising a plate in abutment with said rst washer and the pivotal ends of said elements, a second Washer in abutment with said spring means for normally urging said spring means into engagement with said rodlike elements and means for maintaining all of said aforesaid components in operable engagement.

2. A supporting means for a plurality of rod-like elements in either collapsed or extended position comprising a substantially circular holder having a series of radial cutouts to form a series of peripheral tabs, each of said tabs having a circumferential arcuate groove therein for supporting a ring upon which each of said elements are pivotally mounted when each of said elements are connedwithintheir'respective cutouts, spring tension means comprising a plurality of substantially circular plates; wherein each of said plates is provided with a series of radial slots extending inwardly from the peripheral edge of said plates, said spring tension means being in abutment with the pivotal ends of each of said elements.

Treman Dec. 12, 1876 Schmidt et al. May 19, 1914 

